Community Relations Commission

1 Minutes of a Meeting of the 2 Community Relations Commission 3 Northbrook, IL 4 Thursday, March 5, 2015 5 6 Present: Chairman Ray Wehr, Commissioners Dale Duda, Bruce Doughty, Safa 7 Hamed, Chris Kosla, & Dr. Rochelle Singer 8 9 Representatives: Lou Gross, Alice Lonoff, Ron Mantegna, & Nancy Stoddard 10 11 Absent: Commissioners Elliot Bruckmann & Linda Goldsher 12 13 Guest: Bob Lozaro & Carol Wolfe/Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation 14 15 Others: Staff Director Tom Poupard & Recording Secretary Gale Cerabona 16 17 Call to Order & Welcome 18 Chairman Wehr called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Board Room at Village Hall. 19 20 Approval of February 5, 2015, Regular Meeting Minutes & Subcommittee Minutes 21 Revisions for Regular Meeting minutes were identified as follows: 22  Line 50 replace NBCRC with NCRC 23  Line 82 replace Ernst with Gerstein 24  Lines 101-103 omit paragraph 25  Line 131 replace artifacts with arts and crafts 26  Line 142 replace “with 20 minutes at each location” with “until 1 p.m.” and replace 27 4:30 p.m. with 4 p.m. 28  Line 164 delete “is pretty safe” 29  Line 178 correctly spell Hamed 30 31 A motion was made by Commissioner Singer, seconded by Commissioner Doughty, to approve 32 the February 5, 2015, minutes as amended. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 33 34 A motion was made by Commissioner Doughty, seconded by Representative Mantegna, to 35 approve February 10 & 16, 2015’s, Black History Month Subcommittee minutes as presented. 36 On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 37 38 A motion was made by Commissioner Singer, seconded by Commissioner Kosla, to approve 39 February 12, 2015’s, Interfaith Sunday Subcommittee minutes as presented. On a voice vote, 40 the motion carried unanimously. 41 42 Hear From the Audience 43 Chairman Wehr asked Commissioner Doughty to introduce our guest. Commissioner Doughty 44 moved, seconded by Commissioner Singer, to relocate agenda item #6 to the next agenda item. 45 On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 46 47 Sister Cities Update 48 Commissioner Doughty advised that Carol Wolfe from Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation 49 will speak to the group and thanked her for attending this evening. 50  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission March 5, 2015 51 Mrs. Wolfe reported that the Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation was founded in the 1980s, 52 and the International Sister Cities Foundation began in the 1950s. Mrs. Wolfe advised that she 53 has been with this group from the beginning and has been President for 12 years. She stated 54 they are a 501 (c) (3) organization with all volunteers and is not a commission from the City. 55 56 Mrs. Wolfe informed there are 3 Sister Cities in Highland Park: 57  Puerta Vallarta, Mexico 58  Modena, Italy 59  Yerucham, Israel 60 61 Mrs. Wolfe advised that bylaws were rewritten. She emphasized that committee members for 62 both cities must be committed. The process is to attend meetings, provide names of those on 63 the proposed Sister City, and denote what is happening (over 6 months). The Mayor liaises, and 64 the local city becomes a friendship city (for 6 months) then a Mayoral request is given to 65 become a Sister City. 66 67 Mrs. Wolfe stated that in Highland Park, there are Vice Presidents for each Sister City, and each 68 Sister City has a stipend/budget (provided by the City of Highland Park). She indicated Chicago 69 has a huge program with a $1 million budget and many volunteers. 70 71 Mrs. Wolfe noted various events/programs: 72  Highland Park Sister Cities International Youth Soccer Tournament, where local cities 73 and a team from Puerto Vallarta attended. A graduate of Highland Park High School was 74 approached to request the team’s attendance from Puerto Vallarta. 75  Robotics exchange between Highland Park High School students and students in 76 Yerucham, where funds and robotics products were provided. Subsequently, a First 77 Tech Challenge has been established and an event will soon be held in Israel followed 78 by the World Championship in St. Louis. Local, state Mayors, and entertainers recently 79 networked – all to provide opportunities. 80 81 Mrs. Wolfe stated that various programs could and have snowballed from these and other 82 events -- the Focus on the Arts program, a gourmet dinner Gala (hosted every 3 years), etc. 83 She added that the intention is to bring the community together, promote respect, and create 84 positive impact on the lives of people. 85 86 Mrs. Wolfe distributed informational fact sheets on the Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation. 87 Commissioners thanked Mrs. Wolfe for her presentation and the following was discussed: 88  Press Releases are sent, meetings are posted at City Hall (where they are held) 89  Begin with one Sister City 90  Regarding budget, dues are $500 to Sister Cities International; dues to IL are $50. A 91 stipend up to $5,000 is provided. 92  Event costs have been: 93 o Soccer Tournament - $10,000 and sponsors are recruited. Donors receive a tax 94 deduction 95  Regarding any controversies, everyone will not be pleased all of the time. Criticisms will 96 come. 97  To obtain a Sister City in Israel, the committee reached out to those who would be 98 interested in an Israeli Sister City. The process requires time for a relationship to be 99 established. For example, it took 10 years to achieve a Sister City in Israel. 2  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission March 5, 2015 100  Regarding the relationship to the City of Highland Park, this is a charity for Highland 101 Park. Fundraising is a part of the committee. Four to six people per city per committee is 102 recommended. All of the members support all committees. Members on both sides 103 need to be committed. 104 105 Mrs. Wolfe concluded that she is happy to be a resource to the CRC and read a letter from a 106 happy Sister City parent. 107 108 Village Staff Report 109 Staff Director Poupard stated that everyone did a great job during the Black History Month 110 event. 111 112 Black History Month Wrap Up 113 Commissioner Singer distributed the program and stated that the event was great with coverage 114 from Channels 2 & 5. She advised that the Village Staff and Board were very supportive 115 (following the controversy), and everyone focused on the big picture. 116 117 Commissioner Singer relayed that the JRW team received a standing ovation, and there were 118 300 in attendance. An email of thanks (from a community member) was read. 119 120 Commissioner Singer reported that the committee stayed on budget (2 invoices are in process). 121 122 Chairman Wehr praised Commissioner Singer’s leadership and ideas for this program; she was 123 applauded by the CRC. Commissioner Singer thanked everyone for their efforts. 124 125 Commissioner Singer stated that the staff at the YMCA went above and beyond – sponsoring 126 pizza and beverages, offering a sound system, etc. 127 128 Commissioners Duda and Singer communicated that 120 people were served 300+ hot dogs. 129 130 Commissioner Singer advised that the BHM committee is ready to tackle next year’s event, and 131 a patron (who attended this year) expressed interest in participating. 132 133 Chairman Wehr commended Commissioner Singer and the BHM committee for an outstanding 134 job – along with Village and YMCA staff, and the new fire chief. 135 136 Asian Heritage Planning 137 Chairman Wehr advised that the event will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2015, at the YMCA and 138 noted a subcommittee meeting has taken place. He stated that this event will be smaller, shorter 139 (2-3 hours), and needs to be modernized based on feedback. Chairman Wehr reported that 4 140 restaurants and approximately 4 entertainment groups are participating. 141 142 NCRC Award Update 143 Chairman Wehr advised that a subcommittee meeting is planned for next week, and there are 3 144 nominees. Commissioner Singer stated that one nominee is a member of the CRC who is 145 ineligible, and the other is deceased. Chairman Wehr asked for reactions regarding posthumous 146 nominees. Comments for and against were shared. Another response was – if there are no 147 guidelines to the contrary, it should be allowed. Others contended the nature of the award does 148 not qualify the individual if deceased. It was noted that changes to the criteria are possible for 149 the future. Commissioner Singer thanked everyone for their comments. 3  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission March 5, 2015 150 151 WTN/Flamingo Friday Planning 152 Commissioner Duda advised that the flamingos have been purchased and arrived. She 153 suggested members ask various groups to participate. Commissioner Duda stated that CRC 154 representation is appreciated, and Trustees are encouraged to attend. 155 156 Commissioner Duda advised that the event is Friday, May 15 from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. at Village 157 Hall. It was noted that Commissioner Bruckmann is organizing the Welcome to Northbrook 158 portion of the event. 159 160 News from Clergy Association & Houses of Worship 161 Commissioner Kosla reported: 162  There was a roundabout with the Clergy Association 163  There is talk about bringing Father Michael Pfleger to a future event; Staff should 164 promote this with the media 165  Bishop Cupich will be at St. Norbert’s in Northbrook on Sunday, March 8, 2015, at 166 2:30 p.m. 167  A speaker from the French Consulate provided a presentation on safety abroad 168 169 Commissioner Kosla advised $500 is being donated by the Clergy Association for Interfaith 170 Sunday. Participation currently consists of 9 entities (4 are not attending). Clergy members are 171 reaching out to other Houses of Worship. Another meeting will take place next week. Chairman 172 Wehr suggested that some may not be participating because the church tours are the same as 173 last year. 174 175 Commissioner Kosla estimates that costs for shirts ($6 each), pizza, banners ($200) will total 176 $1,650 (including $500 from the Clergy Association). He advised that the location is at St. Giles. 177 Music and songs are being discussed. He reminded that the event is Sunday, April 19, 2015, at 178 12:30 p.m. followed by Houses of Worship tours, and an after-party at Village Hall from 4 p.m.- 179 5:30 p.m. Chairman Wehr recommended borrowing a sound system for the event. 180 181 A motion was made by Commissioner Kosla, seconded by Commissioner Singer, to approve a 182 budget of $1,200 for the event. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 183 184 Chairman Wehr stated that the Village Presbyterian Church will host its Pancake Festival on 185 Saturday, March 7, 2015. 186 187 News from Schools 188 Representative Gross, District 28, reported: 189  He is looking forward to the upcoming pilot program and Spring Break 190  Construction at Westmore is nearly complete 191  Testing is taking place, and teachers/staff will be present to assist students. 192 Commissioner Doughty stated testing is also happening at Northbrook High School. 193 194 Representative Lozaro discussed student stress and the need for counselors. 195 196 Commissioner Doughty advised that two new principals at Glenbrook South have been 197 appointed. Representative Lozaro shared that District 30 has a new superintendent. 198 4  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission March 5, 2015 199 Commissioner Hamed advised that the GBN Booster Club is intended to be more integrated 200 with the community college and has a philanthropy component. She reported that there are 10 201 members. Projects were mentioned (collecting canned goods, creating t-shirts, etc.). 202 203 Old Business 204 Representative Lonoff inquired about Northbrook Cares. Chairman Wehr advised that a web 205 site designer has been hired. 206 207 New Business 208 There was no New Business. 209 210 Eyes & Ears on the Street 211 Representative Lozaro reminded that on Friday, March 6, 2015, St. Norbert’s Men’s Club is 212 sponsoring a St. Patrick’s Day Party with the Shannon Rovers as entertainment. 213 214 Commissioner Duda advised that on Friday, March 6, 2015, Northfield Township (on Waukegan 215 Road) is having an Open House. 216 217 Representative Lonoff stated that author, Brian Stevenson, who wrote the book Just Mercy will 218 speak at Northwestern on March 18, 2015. 219 220 Chairman Wehr noted that the YMCA held a recent charity event, and Open Communities in 221 Winnetka is looking to establish a committee on affordable housing (if anyone is interested). 222 223 Next Meeting 224 The next meeting will be held on April 2, 2015, at the Village Hall. 225 226 Adjournment 227 A motion was made by Commissioner Kosla, seconded by Commissioner Singer, to adjourn the 228 meeting at 8:44 p.m. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 229 230 Respectfully submitted, 231 232 Gale Cerabona 233 Recording Secretary 5